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A handsome natural stone retaining wall adds beauty and
value to both commercial and residential property.
It is true that an experienced "stone wall builder" can
readily build the "perfect" stone wall -and it will last forever.
But the building of the stone wall is a project that can
also be undertaken by a do-it-yourselfer without the mess
and expense of mortar or concrete -with relative ease and
great success.
Plan Ahead
First you have to determine the length of the wall (in feet) and
the height of the wall (in feet). If the wall is to be no more
than 4-feet high, you will be able to use stones about 1-foot
wide. That will make your retaining wall about 1-foot thick.
Next, visit your stone dealer to see the various types,
colors and materials available that best suit your landscape
plan. There are granites, limestones, sandstones, quartzites,
flagging, and other specialty ledge type stones that will suit
the purpose. Your local stone dealer can offer you recom-mendations
and suggestions.
Remember, stone is heavy. (It lasts forever). Don't get
discouraged when your stone dealer talks about price per
ton of various stones.
Let us say you determined that your wall will be 50-feet
long and 2-feet wide. Here is the formula:
50' x 2' x 1' = 100 Cubic Feet (CF)
The stone will probably weigh an average of 125 pounds
per cubic foot.
100 cf x 125 pounds/cf = 6-1/4 tons.
Your planned 50-foot retaining wall will need about
6-1/4 tons of stone. Take a little extra to allow for a good
selection. The cost can range from $100 to $200 or more,
per ton -depending upon the type of stone, how it is to be
delivered (or dumped), where it is to be delivered, etc.
Be sure to buy from a reliable stone dealer. Sometimes
there is a "bargain" stone available -which may have been
blasted free with dynamite -and which now contains microscopic
fissures that can hold water and freeze, spall,
and deteriorate. All of your effort will have
been wasted if the stone material is not
of good quality and the wall stone deteriorates.
Tools and Materials
(Some of these may be rented or borrowed from your stone supplier).
1. Heavy Hammer
2. Folding Rule
3. Carpenter's Level
4. Pick and Shovel
5. String Line
6. Crushed stone or gravel
7. Selected Stone
Getting Started
Dig a trench about 6-inches deep and about 12" wide (or as
wide as your largest stone) along the base of the proposed
location of the wall. Fill it with compacted gravel or
crushed stone as a base. There is no elaborate footing
required for a wall without mortar since the stones are not
bonded together and will rise and fall with the frost.
Sort the wall stones by size with all the 5" thick pieces;
4-1/2" pieces, 4" thick pieces, etc. Keep aside the most
attractive stones to use as the capstone (top row).
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